Time releasing device for levers controlling railway appliances.



.No. 834,264.- PATENTEDOGT. so, 1906'." J. P. COLEMAN. I 4 v TIMERELBASING n'nv cs r011 LEVBRS CONTROLLINGRAILWAY APPLIANCES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED 001". 30, 1 906..

- J. P. COLEMAN. TIME RELEASING DEVICE FOR LBVERS CONTROLLING RAILWAY APPLIANGES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1906.

4 SHEHTSSHBET 2.

THE NORRIS Pzrsus cm, wnsnmaraw, v c.

No. 834,264 I PATENTEDOGT. 30,1906.

' J. P. COLEMAN.

TIME RELEASING DEVICE FOR LEVERS GONTROLLING RAILWAY APPLIANCES.APPLICATION FILED 11mm. 1900.

- THE NaRRls r-zrnu co., wasmnoron, n. c,

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

' PATENTBD OCT. 30, 1906.

- J. P. COLEMAN... I

TIME RELEASING DEVICE FOR LBVERS CONTROLLING RAILWAY'APPLIA NGES.

APPLIUATIQN FILED JULY 16, 1906.

mums-enm- 4.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50., WASHINGTON, 0.5.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEUNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME RELEASING DEVICE FOR LEVERS CONTROLLING RAILWAY APPLIANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application filed July 16, 1906- Serial No. 326,346

, MAN, .a citizen of the United-States, residing at Edgewood Park, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Time Releasing Devices for LeversControlling Railway Appliances, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a time releasing device for a lever operating orcontrolling the operation of a railway part or appliance. The timereleasing device is designed to prevent an operator moving a levercontrolling or operating a railway part or appliance until after aninterval of time has elapsed. For example, after certain levers havebeen moved to set up a route .over which a car or train is to pass thetime releasing device is also operated to a position that will preventan operator from suddenly changing the track conditions until after aperiod of time has elapsed. I will describe a time releasing device anda modification thereof embodying my invention and then point out thenovel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing anapplication of my invention. Fig. 2' is a vertical sectlonal v1ew of atime releasing device for effecting a slow release of an electr1c lockof a controlling-lever, the parts being in normal position. Fig, 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts intheir positions after anoperation of the lever to clear a signal. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a-view, partlyin section, of a modified form of time releasing device applied to aform of mechanical interlocking for an operating-lever. Fig. 6 is asectional view showing the application of the time release deviceillustrated in Fig. 5 to control the release of an electric lock for anoperating-lever.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all ofthe figures.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A designates a portion of a railway-track; A,aportion of a second railway-track onto which cars or trains aredirected from the track A through the switch B. A two-arm railway-signalB is located adjacent the switch B, the upper blade a of which controlsthe passage of a car or train along the track A past the switch B,

while the lower blade at controls the passage of cars or trains from thetrack A onto the track A through the switch B. Usually these bladesstand in their horizontal or danger position and are cleared-that is,moved to an inclined or clear position by an operator in an adjacenttower upon the approach of cars or trains of which he is advised. Thisis all well understood in the art. 7

Each blade a a is provided with a suitable type of operating mechanism(one being designated M) the operation of which is controlled by alever.

In the drawings I have shown one lever C as controlling the operation ofthe mechanism a A lever is also provided for operating or controllingthe operation of the switch B, which lever (not shown) is suitablyinterlocked by mechanical interlocking D with the lever O. Thismechanical interlocking is so arranged that when the lever C is operatedto clear the Both mechanisms may be controlled from the same orindependent levers, as is well known in the art.

blade (1 the lever for the switch B is locked against movement, and thelever for the switch. B can only be moved when the lever C is given itsfinal movement to put it in itsnormal position and the blade a is in itshorizontal or danger position. This is well understood in the art. Withthis understanding of the diagram of Fig. 1 it will be seen that afterthe blade 0 has been cleared to permit a car or train to proceed pastthe switch B along the track A it is possible for the operator to againput the blade to its danger position and then operate the switch B todirect the approaching train onto the track A. To prevent this beingdonein short, to prevent any lever controlling .a railway appliancebeing completely moved to release other levers controlling other railwayappliances until aiter an interval of time has elapsed, thereby giving awarning or indication to the operator of'what he is doing-is an objectof my invention. This is accomplished by the-devices illustrated inFigs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings.

A time releasing device embodying my invention comprises a cylindercontainin ,preferably, a liquid, a piston, the piston an cylinder beingrelatively movable-that is, one

part is preferably fixed, while the other is y movablemeans forpermitting a relative movement in one direction of the movable part anda slow relative movement of the movable part in a reverse direction.After the movable part has completed its slow movement it releases alock, which may be either a mechanical or an electric lock. Figs. 2, 3,and 6 illustrate a circuit-controller operated by the movable part,while Fig. 5 illustrates a mechanical lock. The movable part may beautomatically or manually operated, and any desired means may beemployed for this purpose.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, F designates a bracket which isadapted to be fixed to some suitable support. Extending upwardly fromthe bracket F are rods 9 to the ends of which are secured a plate 9 forsupporting a cylinder G. As shown, the plate 9 forms an end for thecylinder. The cylinder contains a quantity of fluid, (preferably aliquid,) and movable within the cylinder is a piston H. The piston isdesigned to have a free movement in one direction through the liquid anda slow movement in a reverse direction. The free movement is permittedby reason of the opening or openings 10/ in the piston, with which asuitable form of valve N coacts. shown, the valve is yieldingly heldagainst the piston to close the openings n by means of a spring n beingheld against the valve N by a nut and washer n Of course when the pistonis moved upward the liquid in the cylinder forces the valve N away fromthe openings, so that the liquid may pass through the openings beneaththe piston. When the piston descends, the valve N is forced and heldagainst the piston both by the spring n and liquid. The descent of thepiston produced by the Weight of the parts connected with it ispermitted by the liquid passing through a passage m in the piston-head,past a Valve n, and through openings 72/2 in the piston. The openings hare formed in a tube h, which serves as a stem for the piston-head, oneend being secured to the piston and its other end passing through theother head g of the cylinder and secured to a head I. The valve 12 iswithin the tube It and is adjustable through a screwthread 7L providedat its upper end. Thus the rapidity of flow of the liquid past the endof the valve a through the'passage m may be regulated, thereby obtainingdifferent de grees of speed for the descent or reverse movement of thepiston.

The head I is secured to rods i, the lower ends of which rest upon aplate I. The plate I has secured to it an inverted cylinder J, withinwhich is a piston J, which, as shown, is suitably fixed in the bracketF. The stem of the piston is formed with a passage j, which communicatesat one of its ends with a passage is, suitably provided in the bracketF, and at its other end with an opening j, formed in the piston-head.Fluidthe upper ends of pressure from a suitable source is suppliedthrough a connection 7c, the control of such pressure being obtainedthrough an electrically-operated valve device L, which may convenientlybe substantially of the construction shown and described in UnitedStates Patent No. 357, 109, granted February 1, 1887, to G.WVestinghouse, Jr.

M designates a helical spring which is located between the plate I andplate g. Its function is to return the plate I and cylinder J to theirnormal positions after the compressed air has been cut off and exhaustedfrom the cylinder J.

The movement of the piston H is made to operate a circuit-controller,which, as shown, comprises a spring contact-plate c, secured ininsulation, which is held by suitable means socured to a rod i, andcontacts 0 0, suitably secured and insulated in the plate 9. Thearrangement of the contacts is more clearly set forth in Fig. 4-.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 is asfollows: \Vhen the electromagnetic valve device is energized,fluid-pressure is admitted to the cylinder J above the piston J throughthe passages lit j and opening j. The cylinder J, under the influence ofthe fluid-pressure, moves upward, carrrying with it the plate I and thepiston H, which is moved through the rods i and head I, and compressingthe spring M. The movement of the piston H in the cylinder G permits theliquid therein to How through the openings n, past the valve N, andbeneath the piston and also moves the contact-plate from the contacts 0to engage the contacts 0. In other words, admitting fluid-pressure tothe cylinder J causes the parts to assume the positions shown'in Fig. 3.The parts will be maintained in the positions shown in Fig. 3 so long asfluid-pressure is retained in the cylinder J. When it is cut off, thespring M acts immediately to restore the cylinder J and plate I to theposition shown in Fig. 2, leaving the piston H suspended in the cylinderG by the fluid beneath the cylinder. The fluid then gradually flows pastthe valve n, through the passage 9, and thus permits a slow descent ofthe piston H and parts connected with it. Thus the contact at 0 will notbe made until after an interval of time has elapsed. In order that thefunction of the device may be clearly understood, reference will be hadto Fig. 1. Assume a train to be moving on the track A in the directionof the arrow. Before it can proceed past the switch B along the track Athe blade a must be cleared. To do this, the operator moves the lever Oto close a circuit at 5 by circuit-controller a. Current will then flowfrom battery X through a circuit which may be traced as follows:circuit-controller 0, contact 5, wire 6, electrically-operated valve L,and wires 9 10 to battery X. The electrically-operated valve will thenadmit air under pressure to the cylinder J, and the cylinder J, pistonH, and rods i will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3. During suchmovement the resistance offered by the fluid in the cylinder Gwill forcethe valve N from its seat, and most or all of the fluid will flowthrough the openings 12/ to below the piston H; The movement will alsobreak the circuit at 0 and close another circuit at o. A circuit willthen be established from battery vX, which may be traced as follows:circuit-controller a, contact 5, wires 6 12, contacts 6 0, wire 13,

operating mechanism. a of blade a, and wires 13 10 to battery X. Blade awill then be moved to safety to permit the train to pass. If now theoperator should desire to changethe routeas, for example, by setting theswitch Bfor track A he would be unable to do so immediately. Although hecould put the signal a to danger, 1e cannot operate the switch-leveruntil the lever C is put in its final position, and this cannot be doneun til the lock D is released. The circuit for the lock D comprisesacircuit-controller 15,-

which is closed only when the blade operating it is in-its dangerposition, and the con' tacts 0 of the time releasing device E, whichcontacts are only closed when the piston H is in its lowermost position.Consequently when the operator moves the lever. C to a break the circuiton the mechanism (L as well as the valve device L, the contacts 0 willnot be closed for a period of time, thus acting as an indication totheoperator of what he is do"- ing. The circuit for the lock D may betraced as follows: From battery Y it is wires 14 2 0 16 17, look I),wire 18, contacts e 0,

wire 19, circuit-controller 15, and wire 21 to battery. When thiscircuit is closed, the lock D will be released, thereby enabling theoperator to give the final movement to the vlever C to put it in itsnormal position, and

thus through the mechanical interlocking release the lever controllingor operating the switch B.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of timereleasing device and the application of a time releasing deviceembodying my invention to the locking-bar of a lever, which locking-baris included in an interlocking machine. In this form of the inventionthe same arrangement of cylinder G, piston H, and valves N and n areemployed. The principal difference is that instead of movingthe iston Hin one direction automatically it 1s manually moved, suitable mechanicalconnections 10, P, p, and 0 being employed between the lever C andpiston H. The rod 0 rests on the end of the rod p and carries with itthe plate I, to which the rods 11 are fixed. The rod 0 is also providedwith a centrally-arranged opening 0, which receives a rod 0 extendingdownwardly from the plate g, and with a recess 0 which in the lowermostposition of the rod 0 receives a roller (1 carried by the end of alocking-rod d, comprised in the interlocking. The rod O is for.

guiding the upward movement of the rod 0 when operated by ,the lever C.Assuming the lever O to be in its normal position when it is moved toits reverse position to operate a railwaypart or appliance, the rod 0 ismoved upward,-carrying with it the plate I, rods i, and piston H, justas in the form illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In moving upward the rod 0forces the locking-rod inward against the action of a spring d", therebylock ing other levers comprised in the machine. When the lever is movedagain to its normal position, the rod p is moved away fromthe rod 0,which, with its connected parts, is permitted to descend gradually, itstime of descent being governed by the rapidity of flow of the liquidpast the valve n. Until the rod 0 and parts reach its lowermost positionthe locking-bar is held against movement by the spring d, and thus otherlevers in the machine are locked against movement for an interval oftime. i

Referring now to Fig. 6, precisely the same arrangement is shown as inFig. 5, the differ.

ence being that the time release device is not associated withmechanical interlocking, but, on the contrary, is made to control thecircuit of an electric lock D which may be associated with a leveroperating a railway part or appliance. 0c designate parts of acontact-spring which move with the piston H, and 2 2 stationarycontacts. In this form of the invention the time release may be locatedsome distance from the lever C, which operates it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a timereleasing device, the combinati on with a cylinder containing fluid, apiston within the cylinder, means for producing a relative movementbetween the iston and cylinder in one direction, means or causing a slowrelative movement between the piston and cylinder in the oppositedirection, and a lock operated von the completion of the slow relativemovement.

2. In a time releasing device, the combination with a cylindercontaining a fluid, a piston within the cylinder, means for imparting amovement to the piston through the fluid in one direction, means forretarding the movement of the piston through the fluid in the oppositedirection, and a lock for a lever operated upon the completion of thelatter movement of the piston.

3. In a time releasing device, the combination 'with a cylindercontaining a fluid, a piston within the cylinder, means for imparting amovement to the piston through the fluid in one direction, means forretarding the movement of the piston through the fluid in the oppositedirection, comprising an adjustable valve, and a lock for a leveroperated when the piston completes its latter movement.

4. In a time releasing device, the combination with a cylindercontaining a fluid, a piston within the cylinder, an automatic valve forcontrolling an opening in the piston, means for moving the piston in onedirection to cause the fluid to flow from one side of the piston to theother through the valve-controlled opening, an adjustable valvecontrolling a passage in the piston through which the fluid passes upona reverse movement of the piston, and a lock operated on thecompletionof the reverse movement of the piston.

5. In a time releasing device, the combina tion with a cylinder forcontaining a fluid, a piston within the cylinder, anautomaticallyoperated valve for controlling an opening in the piston,automatically-operated means for moving the piston in one direction tocause the fluid to flow past the automatic valve from one side of thepiston to the other, an adjustable valve for controlling a passage inthe piston through which the fluid flows JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. ORUsE, E. R. LOEHR.

